Recent and Projected Hardwood Net Annual 
Growth 
Hardwoods account for well over 40 percent of the net 
annual growth of growing stock in the South. Generally, 
the rate of growth for hardwoods is slower than that for 
softwoods in the region, and hardwood stands are carried 
over longer rotations. 
Southwide Trends 
Between 1952 and 1976, net annual hardwood timber growth 
increased from 2.9 billion to 4.4 billion cubic feet, a rise 
of 53 percent (tables 3.19 and 3.20, fig. 3.38). Sometime 
after 1976, growth turned down, and in 1984 it was 3 
percent below 1976. Hardwood net annual growth is 
projected to continue to drop through 2010 and then increase 
slightly. In 2030, net annual growth is 20 percent less than 
in 1984. By ownership class, the largest decline is projected 
on other private land (fig. 3.38). By management class, a 
larger decrease is projected for upland hardwoods than for 
bottomland hardwoods (fig. 3.39). 
By ownership, net annual growth of hardwoods declined 
on farmer-owned timberland between 1976 and 1984 and 
rose for other ownerships. The farmer ownership and most 
other ownerships show declining trends over the projection 
period. 
Hardwood growth on upland hardwood types has increased 
more than 80 percent since 1952 (fig. 3.39). This rate of 
increase is about five times greater than the increase on 
bottomland hardwood types. This difference results from 
interactions among a number of factors that have shaped 
the two broad management types. Bottomland hardwoods 
have been cleared more rapidly and maintained a higher 
average stocking than upland hardwoods. Upland hardwoods 
in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain regions are generally 
younger and less heavily stocked than bottomland hardwoods 
and contain a higher proportion of softwood, roughly 15 
percent of the basal area. Upland hardwoods in the interior 
highland, mountain, and Piedmont regions are older and 
better stocked. 
Several factors have been involved in the recent slowdown 
in hardwood growth. One of these, the gradual aging of the 
hardwood stands, has been brought about by the low rate of 
harvest, relative to the inventory. Another factor, also 
related to the aging of the hardwood stands, is a recent 
increase in mortality. Between 1976 and 1984, the annual 
mortality of hardwoods rose 40 percent (table 3.21). Stand 
conditions brought about by a long history of poor har- 
vesting and regeneration practices have also adversely 
affected the growth of hardwood. Too often, the harvesting 
of hardwood stands in the region has consisted of high 
Net annual hardwood growth is projected to 
decline in the South. This is the result of 
many of the same factors causing the 
reduction in net annual softwood growth— 
loss of hardwood acreage, higher mortality, 
and increasing stand age and stocking levels 
(where slower growth is to be expected). 
grading—removing the better trees and leaving a large 
residual of rough, rotten, and other poor-quality trees that 
impede the establishment and development of a new stand. 
Recent reductions in numbers of hardwood saplings are 
simply early indicators of the projected decline in hardwood 
growth (fig. 3.42). 
Trends in the Southeast 
Between 1952 and 1976, net annual growth of hardwood 
growing stock in the Southeast increased from 1.3 billion 
to 2.2 billion cubic feet, or by 69 percent. From 1976 to 
1984, hardwood growth increased less than 1 percent. 
Results from the most recent forest surveys in the Southeast 
suggest that the long upward trend in the net annual growth 
of hardwood has leveled off and in some places begun to 
decline (app. tables 3.49 and 3.63). A new survey in South 
Carolina showed a 28-percent decrease from the previous 
survey. Recently completed surveys in North Carolina and 
Virginia showed little change in the net annual growth of 
hardwood growing stock from the preceding surveys. When 
the change in hardwood growth in these two States is 
compared for all live timber rather than for growing stock, 
there was some decrease. This difference stems from the 
fact that more of the hardwood trees were classed as 
growing stock in the latest surveys. Without some significant 
increase in the rates of hardwood harvest and regeneration, 
a drop in net annual growth of hardwood is likely. 
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